Gads!!! I'm itchin bad. Ended up cleaning a fence row making room for a building remodel I'm doing. Got into both oak and ivy. Thought I'd make it home in time to get cleaned up, but nope, didn't happen.

I know the normal "don't scratch and use calamine", but anybody else got any good sure fire fixes?

CoveredwithitchyplacesandIain'tsayingwhereEd

 

I've heard that if you urinate on yourself the itching will go away. Or maybe that was jelly fish...

 

Uh, thanks?

Good thing I'm far away from jellyfish

Ed

 

The best stuff I use is the Benadrill Gel (spelling) It's in a little 4 oz bottle, green cap (extra strength) That works really good. Also you may want to take a pill too, they work really good, and block the histamine that causes itch. I'm very allergic to the stuff and if I get it, have to get steroid shots at the hospital cause it'll make my throat and stuff swell up.

Then there's the man way, break open all the blisters with something (wire grill brush works good) then mix a 10% bleach 90% water solution and pour it all over, will dry skin out big time, but ivy gone very soon. Also the more bleach you use, the more it'll burn, but faster it's away (you get the idea) Also as a Biotech guy this isn't bad for you as it's not going into your blood or under your skin, just under the 1st layer, and on top of the 2nd. I normally use 50/50, pure bleach just will melt your arm off.

 

Smash your finger in the truck door. You will forget all about your poison ivy.

~Rob

 

A couple shots of Jack Daniels will take care of it too

 

I can't help you...those things have no effect on me. Poison oak and ivy, I mean. Seriously. We had poison oak in our back yard and every year I was the one who went out to cut it down because I was the only one who wasn't affected by it.

I'll shed a little tear for your itchyness though.

Jim

 

Ok, I think I got it. First I drink a little Jack, then slam my fingers in the door, then finally wet myself.

Sounds ALMOST like some of the happenings of youth

I knew I could count on Y'all to help.

Ed

 

the best cure for the ivy to dry it out is to get some lye soap and wash with it just dont get it on your private parts or eyes.

 

I get it just talking about it. Gee thanks.
I run the area under water as hot as I can stand it, which makes it itch like fire, and then take a scrub brush to it. You gotta get rid of that urishiola oil from the ivy. Not that I recommend doing this, just telling you what works for me. You may as well drink the cowlomine lotion for all the good it does. A little Clorox helps too.

 

The clorox method works, I have used it.

If you do not want to do that, you can use Witch Hazel. it is available in the same kind of bottles that alcohol and peroxide is in. Should be some at your local drug store. It helps dry out the stuff also.

 

Scratch like a flea bitten dog, shower real well, cover with pure aloe gel. My method to the madness....

 

Good, glad I'm not the only one. The Clorox idea sounds crazy, but I suspect it would actually work quite well. If you're not up for that, there's a product called Zanfel that I tried on mine that really helped. It does what was recommended earlier, remove the oil from the plant. Be prepared, though, it's $40 for a small tube.

The Zanfel wasn't enough for SWMBO though. I had to take her to the doctor this morning for a prednisone shot AND prescription, along with an antibiotic prescription to ward off any chance of infection. Hers went systemic on her... I have pictures, but she'd probably kill me if I posted them.

 

I always fill up the sink with HOT watter then dump as much commet in it as you can, then take a metal scrubby and scrub till you cant scrub any more.

Coop

 

Bleach and a green scrubby works well.

Mike